Joseph Allin was an 18th-century shipbuilder to the Royal Navy. His works merge with those of his namesake son who was also a Master Shipwright at Portsmouth Dockyard and later Surveyor to the Navy at which point he became Sir Joseph Allin.[1]
Joseph Allin the elder, first appears as "Assistant Master Shipwright" in Portsmouth in December 1700 as assistant to Elias Waffe. Typically this position followed at least seven years on a ship training and a further period serving as a ship's carpenter, bringing his probable age to around 30. As his son was born around 1690 it may be assumed that Joseph Allin the elder was born around 1670.[2]
From 1701 to 1705 he served as Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard and also dis some work overseeing Woolwich before settling as Master Shipwright of Deptford Dockyard in November 1705.[3]
His son had a parallel career but as Master Shipwright of different yards: Portsmouth 1726 to 1742 (in place of John Naish) and then Deptford from 1742 to 1746. Thereafter he served as Surveyor to the Navy initially with Jacob Ackworth and then alone, designing ships and arranging harbour improvements. As Surveyor to the Navy, he was knighted around 1750. Sir Joseph Allin retired in 1755 and died in 1759.[5]
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